Peach tree &#34;Snow Giant&#34;

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct variety relates to a peach tree which has the following unique combination of desirable features: 
     1. Production of fruit with excellent flavor and eating quality. 
     2. Heavy and regular production of fruit with large size. 
     3. Vigorous, upright growth. 
     4. Fruit with firm white flesh, good storage and shipping quality. 
     5. Production of fruit with a high degree of attractive red skin color. 
     6. Fruit ripening in the late maturity season.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of peach tree was originated by us in ourexperimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif., as a first generationcross between two selected seedlings with the field identificationnumbers 18EA213 and 51GA205. The female parent 18EA213 originated from asecond generation cross between a nectarine seedling of unknownparentage and Royal Gold Peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,663). The pollenparent originated from a first generation cross between a selectedseedling from an open pollinated O'Henry Peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No.2,964) crossed with a selected seedling originating from a cross betweenan open pollinated May Grand Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,794)seedling crossed with Sam Houston Peach (non-patented). (Royal GoldPeach is classified as a yellow flesh peach, it originated as a budmutation from the white flesh peach Spring Time (U.S. Plant Pat. No.1,268) and carries a factor for white flesh). The present variety wasselected from a large group of seedlings which were grown and maintainedunder careful observation during which time we recognized its desirablecharacteristics described above and selected the variety for asexualreproduction and commercialization.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of peach tree was asexually propagated by budding,as performed by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto,Calif., and shows that all characteristics run true to the original treeand are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

A new and distinct variety of peach tree which is of large size, withvigorous upright growth and being a productive and regular bearer oflarge, white flesh, freestone fruit with excellent flavor and eatingquality. The fruit is further characterized by relatively uniform sizethroughout the tree, having firm white flesh with good storage andshipping quality and having a high degree of attractive red skin color;and in comparison to Giant Babcock Peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,353),the new variety has the ability to produce a greater number of large,uniform sized fruit, with a higher degree of attractive red skin colorand ripening approximately one month later.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VARIETY

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens ofthe foliage and fruit of our new peach variety with the upper and lowersurface of the leaves being shown and the exterior and a cross sectionalview of the fruit divided in the suture plane to reveal flesh colorationand showing a stone remaining in place. The photographs were takenshortly after being picked at maturity (firm ripe) and the colors are asnearly true as reasonably possible in a color representation of thistype.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the present varietyof peach tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit as based on observationsof specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color terminology (exceptthose in common terms) in accordance with Reinhold Color Atlas by A.Kornerup and J. H. Wanscher.

Tree:

Size.--Large.

Density.--Medium dense.

Vigor.--Vigorous.

Form.--Upright.

Productivity.--Productive.

Bearer.--Regular.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium stocky.

Surface.--Medium shaggy.

Color.--Brown to grayish brown (5-E-4) to (5-E-6).

Branches:

Size.--Medium to large.

Texture.--Varies from smooth to medium rough.

Lenticels.--Medium size. Medium number.

Color.13 Light brown to brown (5-D-4) to (5-D-6).

Leaves:

Size.--Large. Average length -- 63/4". Average width -- 11/4".

Form.--Lanceolate.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Smooth to slightly rugose on older leaves.

Petiole.--Medium length. Medium thickness.

Glands.--Globose. Medium size. Number varies from 0 to 3. Average number2. Positioned on base of leaf blade and upper portion of petiole,usually alternate.

Color.--Upper surface -- green to dark green (27-F-6) to (27-F-8). Lowersurface -- green to grayish green (27-E-4) to (27-E-6).

Flower buds:

Size.--Large.

Form.--Plump.

Pubescence.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Size.--Large -- showy.

Blooming period.--Mar. 2, 1990 to Mar. 8, 1990. Varies slightly due toclimatic conditions.

Pollen.--Present -- self-fertile.

Color.--Pink.

Fruit:

Maturity when described.--Firm ripe.

Date of first picking.--Aug. 7, 1990.

Date of last picking.13 Aug. 13, 1990.

Size.--Large Average diameter axially -- 31/4" to 33/8". Averagetransversely in suture plane -- 3" to 31/8".

Form.--Nearly globose -- varies from globose to slightly elongated.

Suture.--Shallow, extends from base to apex.

Surface.--Rounded to slightly recessed.

Apex.--Nearly rounded, only very slight apical point.

Base.--Retuse.

Cavity.--Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane. Average depth --1/2". Average breadth -- 1".

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium, tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None.

Down.--Moderate. Medium length.

Color.--White to yellowish white ground color (4-A-1) to (4-A-2).Overspread with red to cock's comb red (10-A-7) to (10-B-8).

Flesh:

Texture.--Firm.

Ripens.--Evenly.

Fibers.--Few, small and tender.

Amygdalin.--Undetected.

Flavor.--Excellent -- mild, sub-acid, sweet.

Juice.--Moderate.

Aroma.--Moderate.

Eating quality.--Excellent.

Color.--White to slightly pinkish white (8-A-1) to (8-A-2). Pit cavityis red to madder red (10-A-7) to (10-B-7) with slight bleeding of redcolor into flesh around pit cavity.

Stone:

Type.--Freestone.

Size.--Large. Average length -- 13/8". Average breadth -- 1". Averagethickness -- 3/4".

Form.--Oval to ovoid.

Base.--Mostly rounded, varies from rounded to straight.

Apex.--Usually acuminate, some sides being more pronounced and extendingnearer to point of apex.

Sides.--Equal to unequal.

Surface.--Furrowed toward apex, pitted toward base. Pit cavity variesfrom elongated to round.

Tendency to split.--Very slight.

Color.--Brown to reddish brown (9-D-4) to (9-D-7).

Use:

Markets.--Local and long distance. Dessert.

Keeping quality: Good.

Shipping quality: Good.

The present variety, its flowers and fruit herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic conditions, soil type and culturalpractices under which the variety may be grown; the present descriptionis that of the variety grown under the ecological conditions prevailingnear Modesto, Calif.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially asillustrated and described, characterized by its large size, vigorous,upright growth and being a productive and regular bearer of large, whiteflesh fruit with excellent flavor and eating quality; the presentvariety is further characterized in comparison to the white flesh peachGiant Babcock (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,353) as having the ability toproduce a greater number of large, uniform sized fruit with a higherdegree of attractive red skin color and the fruit maturing approximatelyone month later.